Match Report:

Les HAN RIVER HARRIERS 2 - 2 SEOUL UNITED FC

Sunday, September 26, 2004

The Harriers twice went down a goal in their game last Sunday against Seoul United but fought back to earn a well deserved tie.

 Both the Harriers and United were missing key players for the game. Adams couldn’t make it for United while the Harriers were missing Trent due to a knee injury, Didi because of his back, and Guillaume, Evan, and Sylvain because of Chuseok family commitments. Worse still, after twenty minutes of play, Christophe went down with a severe ankle sprain which will leave him sidelined for at least a month if not more.

 The players I just mentioned are integral to the Harrier team. To appreciate just how much so, consider Darren’s predictions for the game: Despite losing 5-1 to Seoul United last season, Darren figured the Harriers would beat the three time champions 3 to 2 PROVIDED Evan, Guillaume, Christophe and Gregoire were present. The prediction went that, should any of these players be missing, the Harriers would surely lose.?

 Just before the match the Expats had an exhibition match so many of their players stayed on to watch the following contest. Among them was Jason, who remarked on the determination of the Harriers to hold their ground against the defending champs. The following play from the first half was typical: Gregoire received a pass then took it up-field on his own. Meanwhile, the Harrier’s stylish new striker, Nicolas, made a dash to the top left corner of the field, diverting the attention of United’s defense. Instead of passing to Nicolas on the left, Gregoire made a quick pivot to the right and unleashed a hard but inaccurate shot that flew over the right side of the net. Time and time again Gregoire produced chances for himself only to have his final touch let him down.

 At the other end of the pitch, the ability of United’s midfielders to switch the ball from one side of the pitch to the other then back again was giving the Harriers?defenders quite a headache. In one play, Marcos of the Harriers broke up a United attack by anticipating a long cross from Cisse to Simon that would otherwise have led to a clear opportunity at goal. Certainly, United was playing the best football the Harriers had encountered thus far in the season, and for the first thirty-five minutes it was difficult to see who had the upper hand.

 The game, a defensive slug-fest, was not without its victims. Randal received a short throw from Michael only to have Cisse suddenly descend upon him. The wily left-back just managed to side-step the danger and pass the ball off to Christophe, running diagonally from the right with United’s Said in pursuit. Coco got a foot up on his marker and touched the ball only to have Said’s tackle crash down on his ankle. Coco slumped to the ground in such dramatic fashion that certain United players could be forgiven for suspecting the Amiens native of fishing for a free kick. But it became apparent that Coco was in genuine pain, his ankle so badly swollen it resembled a ripe melon. He’ll surely miss the greater part of the remainder of the season.

 However, there’s no need to feel too sorry for our intrepid midfielder. That very evening at the Limelight, Coco was spotted grinning like a Cheshire cat with his leg propped up on a bar stool while receiving a foot massage from helpful female staff member. Now that’s what I call service! Observing the procedure was Coco’s girlfriend Celine who, needless to say, was not as impressed as the rest of the lads.

 In light of Seoul United’s attacking abilities it’s fortunate that defending is unquestionably one of the Harriers strong points. Since their disastrous debut, the team has let in only two goals for three games; moreover, the last two Man of the Match selections have been for defenders (Markus Hatzelmann and Kevin Cowell).

 Despite their reputation for running up the score against other teams, Seoul United’s defense, led by Said and Cisse, isn’t chopped liver by any stretch. United is the SSFL’s equivalent of Real Madrid in that historically they’ve relied on their strikers to win matches. Perennial top scorers like Fudje, Sinan, Adams and Gregoire saw to that. Since last season, United have lost some of their firepower, most notably in the form of Bosango Fudje, but they’ve compensated by strengthening their back row. It’s a more balanced team we see this season.

 With such good defending on display, it was no wonder no one scored from either team for most of the first half. Even the first goal was a ‘squeaker? Cisse had a throw-in on the right side, not far from the Harriers? flag. Meanwhile, in the box, United players were jockeying with Harrier defenders for position. Instead of tossing directly into the box, Cisse opted for a short lob to Simon who had Randal behind him. Both players jumped for the header but Simon got the better part of it. The ball looped slow and high toward the near post of the Harrier goal. Three players leapt up to retrieve it: Kakkar of United, Joel, the Harriers?central defender and Michael, the Harriers?keeper. Kakkar jumped the highest and headed the ball backwards into Michael’s outstretched arms. The ball ricocheted off the keeper’s palms into Joel’s chest, and into the net.

 Because play in the first half had been so even, the Harriers came back on the pitch feeling confident they could put things right. Karl, now on the field for the injured Christophe, chipped a ball just over Said the last man on United’s backline. Realizing the danger of the situation should the ball by-pass him, Said risked a professional foul and batted the ball down with his hand. The risk paid off as referee Will Kubicek, once again obliged to work without the aid of linesmen, missed the infraction. The ball rebounded to Phillippe (I think) who kicked a hard shot back in the direction of United’s net which, like it’s predecessor, hit a United defender ( this time Scott) in the arm. Will immediately blew the whistle and pointed to the spot. Harrier striker Jean Blaise insisted on taking the penalty and such was his conviction, no one argued with him. Sure enough, after a slight stutter step in his approach JB repaid his team’s confidence with a curving shot into the left side of the net.?

 Will’s style of reff’ing is to try to keep the flow of play going. He doesn’t have much patience for divers or complaints from players. Thus, when Michael, the Harriers?keeper, chose to educate Will on the finer points of the offside rule, Will showed his appreciation with a yellow card. On the other hand, in a later play, when Michael plowed over Sinan while the striker was rushing for a loose ball, Will, not one to hold grudges, kept the play moving despite the fact Sinan on the ground was seeing stars circle his head.

 Seoul United’s third goal was beautiful albeit heartbreaking. Late in the second half a persistent miscommunication between the Harriers?left back and one of Harriers?midfielders had the effect of leaving a man unmarked in the middle of the pitch whenever United managed a counter-attack, which was often. The lapse finally hurt the team: Said maneuvered the ball up across the center line. Spotting Sinan ahead, Said made a hard low pass strait up the pitch to the Turkish striker. Sinan had his back to the Harriers?goal, shielding the ball from Joel. Instead of turning, Sinan spotted Mikael, barrelling down the pitch alone and unmarked; so he laid the ball off gently and swerved away with his defender in tow leaving Mikael to hammer the ball into the top right corner of the net. Between the posts Michael’s view had been obscured throughout the play but amazingly he managed to leap up and get a hand on the shot. Sadly, it was not enough.

 Following the goal, several Harriers collapsed on the pitch in dismay while United celebrated. Subsequently, Harrier right-back (and future Man of the Match for the game), Kevin Cowell, marched around to anyone he spotted moping and reminded them in no uncertain terms that there remained at least seven minutes left in the match to tie things up.

 How right he was. Spurred on by Kevin’s words, the Harriers kept attacking in desperation only to be dispossessed by United’s determined defending. Either United would clear the ball or else they’d hoof it out of touch with a view to running down the clock. The latter practice led to several throw-ins for the Harriers. These proved to be almost as effective as corner kicks for the Harriers, as Lawrence on the left and Kevin on the right can both dump the ball into the box. Indeed, the tying goal occurred at the end of a sequence of throw-ins by Lawrence. The first two dropped close to the center of the box and were easily handled by United’s keeper. Lawrence adjusted his range and aimed for the near post. Jean Blaise, who in the past has been criticized for his reluctance to head the ball, leaped from a group of two defenders and the goalie and redirected the ball into the top left slot of the net. Goal!! Immediately, JB’s shirt came off flying off, his team mates chasing after him in celebration. And a few minutes later the final whistle blew.

 Watching from the sidelines, Nick from SBFC reflected that he too would like to one day “be a Hairier”…and surreptitiously poured a bottle of Rogaine down his shirt.

 Man of the Match: Kevin Cowell

 Goals: Jean Blaise x2 (1 penalty)

 Assist: Lawrence Heavey (JB’s second goal)

 Play of the Game: JB’s last minute header off Lawrence’s throw-in to tie things up.

 Card: Michael Cop (verbal abuse)